Sunday Services

 Sunday, April 3 – Rev. Fred Howard,   “The Armageddon Syndrome: The Real Message of the Left Behind Books”

The Left Behind series of books has sold more than 65 million copies.  Their impact on Christianity has been said to be “greater than any other book in modern times,” which could probably be claimed based on nothing else besides the sheer volume of sales.  Harvey Cox says that the books have “all but drowned out alternative Christian views of the future.”  Cox has much to say about the cultural influence of the books that seems worthy of our attention.  I will share some of his thoughts on the subject of apocalyptic literature this morning as well as some of my own.  

Sunday, April 10 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Ambedkar and Social Justice in India”

Ambedkar grew up an untouchable in India, was educated at Columbia University with the help of a benefactor, and returned to India to become the principle author of the Democratic Indian Constitution in 1947.  The story of his life, his religious transformation, and the methods he used to struggle for personal and social change provide both inspiration and a model for social justice movements today. 

            Our church will celebrate Justice Sunday at this service.  Consider donating to UUSC during the service.  There is some information elsewhere in this newsletter under Social Action Activities.  

Sunday, April 17 - John Swann, "Commemoration of WWII in Norway"

Like much of Europe during WWII, the German occupation of Norway forced people into the difficult choice of whether to collaborate or resist. Moreover, the war created many groups of victims that have since been remembered or forgotten in the country's official history. Based on the field of memory studies and landscape symbolism, this presentation navigates the contested terrain of war memory on the Norwegian landscape. I'll be discussing how historical geographers and public historians study landscape and memory (including local history examples) while examining the recent challenges to Norway's official war history as heritage versus history.

                Since 2009 John Swann has taught at Georgia Military College.  He holds degrees in Geography, Environmental Resource Management, and Social Science.  His research specializations include American and European Landscape History, Late Modern European History, Public History, as well as Cultural, Historical, and Political Geography.  He has taught history and geography for Central Texas College's NCPACE program and the University of Phoenix before joining GMC in 2009.   Welcome him this Sunday to our service.  

Sunday, April 24 – Rev. Fred Howard, “The Easter Story: Violence, Resurrection, and Divine Justice”

Christians did not invent the idea of resurrection.  It has a basis in the Hebrew scriptures, as Harvey Cox points out, and a Hebrew understanding of resurrection is likely what the New Testament authors had in mind when they were composing the gospels.  There is much more to a reexamination of the concept of resurrection than mere theological “hair splitting.”  And those of us concerned with social justice and liberation theology would do well to pay attention to this radical reinterpretation of resurrection by Cox, John Dominic Crossan, and others who are giving new hope to the poor and forsaken in Latin America and other parts of the world.  This morning I will share some stories and thoughts on this emerging paradigm.  

Sunday, May 1 – Rev. Fred Howard, “Seeing the World Anew: Grandparenting as a Spiritual Practice”

It takes great spiritual discipline to be fully present in the moment, to see things as they really are, beyond our conditioning, conceptualizing, and preconceived notions.   The Buddhists call it “no mind,” and diligently strive to achieve this state.   Yet children have their special, innocent ways of seeing things that has much the same quality, I think.  This morning I will reflect on this idea and share some of my experiences with my grandkids that have facilitated my own “enlightenment” and a joyful sense of oneness with the universe.

Annual Congregational Meeting Today! Following the service today the congregation will hold its annual meeting.  See our President’s column later in the newsletter and information from the current Board about issues which will be addressed in this important meeting.  If you haven’t already let our treasurer know your next year’s pledge, please do so immediately.  Members who have made a contribution of record by a date designated in the church’s bylaws are eligible to vote at this meeting.

Sunday, May 8 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “The Niebuhr Brothers and American Protestantism”

Reinhold Niebuhr and his brother Richard Niebuhr are two of the most influential American Protestants of the twentieth century.  Reinhold taught at Union in New York for many years and Richard taught at Yale.  Together they represent the peak of American liberal Christian thought and practice and influenced countless Christian academics and pastors.  We will highlight key components of their approach to ethics, human nature, and the relationship of Christianity to American culture.

Sunday, May 15 – Rev. Fred Howard, “The Light at the End of the Tunnel”

This morning I will share some thoughts on the art and practice of aging gracefully.  The subject is a personal one, and I will share some personal reflections on the subject as I wonder sometimes whether I am navigating it gracefully myself. 

Sunday, May 22 – Dr. Cristóbal Serrán-Pagán,  “Religious Coexistence and Religious Intolerance in the Iberian Peninsula.”

Dr. Serrán-Pagán will address how Christianity, Judaism and Islam lived together for centuries in the Iberian soil as well as some of the historical reasons behind the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from this region. What can we learn from this period of religious coexistence (or convivencia) and from the religious intolerance?  Dr. Cristóbal Serrán-Pagán is a faculty member in the VSU Philosophy & Religious Studies Department.

Note that this Sunday will the last in the recent series of Adult R.E. discussions.

Sunday, May 29 – Dr. Keith Johnson, “Women in Philosophy: A Continuing Conversation”

Keith Johnson will continue the discussion on "Women Philosophers" which he began several months ago.  Four predecessors of Hypatia, whom he will address, include Julia Domna an Empress of Rome, Marcella the wife of Porphyry, and Macrina the elder and the younger. He will next discuss Hroswitha of Gandersheim and last, time permitting, Heloise.  The attributes of these women not only display recognized female wisdom but also diversity in matters of politics, pure philosophy, and Christian scholarship.  Hroswitha is also noted as the first poet of Germany and thus the women philosophers demonstrate a compelling breadth as well as depth of knowledge and faculties.  Dr. Johnson teaches in the Philosophy and Religion Department at VSU and regularly provides music at our services.  

Religious Education

For Children: The RE program for children meets at. 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service.  Two adults are needed each Sunday to help with RE.  Please let Sue know if you can volunteer from time to time or sign up on the monthly Sunday Volunteer list.  Contact: Susan Bailey (300-3146).

For Adults: The current series in the Adult RE Program will continue on Sunday mornings through May 22.  The group began the third workbook, Ethics, in the Building Your Own Theology (BYOT) series April 3.  It is an open group, although you will get the most from the experience if you attend regularly and keep up with the readings in the workbook.  Fred Howard posts the coming Sunday’s discussion items each week so that participants come prepared for the day’s discussion.  

  MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS

Rev. Fred Howard         

 April 2011 Preparing and delivering sermons is one of the most rewarding parts of being a minister.  Few things bring as much joy as having the opportunity to share something that may be to the spiritual benefit of others, as from a personal struggle perhaps, or some insight into the human condition gained from some personal experience. 

Crafting a message that finds resonance in the hearts and minds of the congregation doesn’t require special theological knowledge or a seminary education.  In fact, possession of special knowledge about a subject or a text can actually be a hindrance to crafting a good sermon, as it may insulate the “expert” from the listener, and prevent them from forging the emotional and spiritual connection around a topic that a good sermon requires.  How many times have you heard some preacher with wonderful credentials who straightaway put you to sleep?   A good sermon should invite a mutual exploring and even wrestling with some aspect of our common humanity.  As Emerson put it in his Divinity School Address, the preacher should “deal out to the people his life, passed through the fire of thought.”  Emerson was prompted to say this to the graduates because of a serious deficiency he saw in so many of the preachers of his day. 

I am firmly convinced that crafting a good sermon is something well within the capabilities of most anyone who is emotionally present to life and is willing to get a little training in the basics of sermon structure.  Granted, there is much more to a sermon than there is to a lecture or speech.  But once someone learns what life experiences can make up the vital component of a sermon, you begin to see so much of your life as a rich source of sermon material and the whole process becomes natural and almost easy.  Once you know how to take those life experiences and add the other components that make it an engaging story, the sermon structure almost becomes a lens through which we gain a new way of seeing life and bringing it into focus.   I almost hesitate to share the “secrets” of crafting a sermon, because once you understand the basic elements, you may see how simple it is to do what I do.  My way is simply a way and not “the way” to do it, but I think you will find it a simple and effective way of composing an engaging presentation. 

So I do plan to share with a few willing members of the congregation some essentials of what I know about sermon preparation through a sermon writing workshop.  This will benefit our congregation in a number of ways.  Most important, those who are willing to take part in the workshop will have some tools to clarify some aspects of their own spiritual journey.  They will also have the opportunity to share their sermon material with the rest of us through worship services.  This type of sharing has the potential to bring us closer as a congregation and deepen our level of community.  Also an active lay speaker program seems to energize many congregations and ours, I trust, will be no exception.

The training will take place on two successive Saturday mornings in May.  Those who desire the training must commit for both sessions, be willing to read the two required texts in advance (each is about 100 pages long), and agree to deliver at least one sermon to the congregation this summer.  If you are interested, please contact me and let me know of your interest.  Participation will be limited to the first 6 who commit.  I look forward to a wonderful time of sharing with those who desire to be a part of this learning community.

Grace and Peace,   

Fred

Fred Howard is now writing a blog called "Sharing the Journey." The link is www.revfredhoward.wordpress.com.  You are invited to share his journey.

All About Unitarian Universalism Small Group  

First Session Monday, April 25, 6:30 PM

 (meeting in private homes for three consecutive Monday evening sessions)  Note: Prior registration and commitment to all sessions required.

We have had several newcomers to our congregation recently, and some of these new faces want to join our church.  There are also several visitors who have expressed an interest in learning more about our faith tradition.  To meet these needs, Fred Howard will be offering an “All About Unitarian Universalism” small group experience, similar to the ones we had last year.  We will meet on three consecutive Monday evenings beginning on April 25.  The sessions will begin at 6:30 PM and will last about 2 hours. We will share a small meal, and then have time for an informal discussion and sharing.  Meals will be potluck.  Volunteers will be needed to host the sessions.  Kathy and Fred Howard will host one of the sessions, though probably not the first one as they will just be getting settled in their home in April. 

There will be both an informational as well as a personal sharing component to these sessions which will center around three general themes: 

1) What brought you to Unitarian Universalism?

2) What do Unitarian Universalists believe?

3) Where do I want to go on my faith journey, and how might this church be a part of that future?

If you are interested in being a part of this experience you will need to sign up in advance and commit for all three sessions.  You may contact Kimberly Tanner or to Fred Howard or you may sign up in the sanctuary beginning in April.  The group will be limited to the first eight people.  Come and be a part of this time of learning and building community! 

ABOUT OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Congratulations to

v  Glenda Whitman on her new grandson, Adam, who she has been regularly visiting.  

v  Sue Bailey’s son, Specialist Logan Bailey, and his wife, Ashley Dills, who were married recently. Logan is stationed at Fort Hood and he and his new wife live in Copperas Cove, TX.  Sue and Emmilee were delighted to have Logan home for a visit during March.  They had not seen him since last summer.

v  Frances Patterson’s daughter Elizabeth who recently successfully defended her PhD dissertation.

Thought you might like to know

v  Halley Little, one of our newest members, is moving to California.  We wish her well!

Our thoughst are with those who are experiencing health difficulties at this time…

Facebook:  Visit us on Facebook by searching "Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta." The latest issue of the

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=92779034840  Contact person: Kimberly Tanner

Let’s Have Some Fun!!

Pizza and a Movie

Wednesday, April 13 and May 11

6:00-9:00 PM at the church

Our movie for April 13 is “The Painted Veil” starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.  Based on a W. Somerset Maugham story set in China in the 1920s, the movie was ambitious on several levels.  It attempts to accurately reflect what China was really like during this historical period (it was shot on location in China, despite all the inconveniences and obstacles that involved.)  It fully develops the story of how the hardships a married couple endure effect a remarkable transformation in their character.  Most significantly, it is an historical piece with contemporary relevance as we see how an outsider with good intentions but arrogant ways (sound familiar?) has critical lessons to learn about the local religion and culture before he/she can be effective in bringing about meaningful change.  I found the movie a wonderfully entertaining, well done cinematic experience.  The movie was much too cerebral to gain a wide audience when released in 2006, but it received much critical acclaim for both its artistic merits and the remarkable way it develops these dramatic themes. 

                The movie begins at about 6PM and we keep the discussions at the end to no more than thirty minutes, so that everyone can be home by around 9 PM.    Both veggie and meat pizza will be provided.  Those who eat are asked to contribute to the cost.  Come share an evening together and join in the discussion after the movie. Contacts: Fred Howard and David Rodgers  

May 11 movie review from David Rodgers:   Rob Marshall bases his film,  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) on Arthur Golden's text, Memoirs of a Geisha:  A Novel (1997). The novel's first-person narrative reveals how Nitta Sayuri transcends the shock of her father's desperate decision in response to utter impoverishment to sell her and her sister as children to a family to become household slaves.  Eventually, the family sends her to a Kyoto okiya, a geisha boarding house, to become schooled as a geisha.  She excels in all the arts of the geisha including music, poetry, and escort services as means to gain financial independence and social recognition.   Marshall and Golden both achieve a degree of authenticity in their respective portrayals of Syuri thanks to Golden's interviews of Mineko Iwasa, a retired geisha who sued him for breach of contract after compromising her anonymity.  The film gives surprising, sensual, and visual expression to Sayuri's first-person account of a sequence of metamorphoses as she reflects on such themes as yearning for freedom, seeking worthy love, and exploiting gender relationships.

Games Night

Friday, April 15 and May 20 -  6:30PM - until

At the church

Bring a snack to share, friends, the kids and libations of your choice.  Sue says she plans to be sure there are some activities on hand for the children to keep busy with while the adults are playing the game of their choice.  Contact: Susan Bailey

Book Discussion and Potluck

Friday, April 1 - 6:00 PM and Friday, May 6 -  6:30 PM

At the church

The book in April was “Cutting For Stone” by Abraham Verghese. The story, told by Marion, one of a pair of identical twins, begins in India, moves to Africa, and eventually to the USA. His and Shiva’s birth and life at the mission, Missing, in Ethiopia provide the basis for the conflicts and triumphs contained in the novel. The title ‘Cutting for Stone ’is taken from the Hippocratic oath, but may also reflect a double meaning. Thomas Stone, the twin’s father, is a famous surgeon. Perhaps in a subconscious effort to emulate their absent parent, both twins become skilled physicians. They are ‘Cutting for Stone’. 

The book for the May gathering is also a novel: “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson.    Major Pettigrew, a retired British widower, and Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the village’s widowed Pakistani shopkeeper, develop a friendship, which, unexpectedly to both of them, blossoms into something more.  A reviewer states, “I love this book.  With courting curmudgeons, wayward sons, religion, race, and real estate in a … picturesque English village, [this book] is … surprisingly, wonderfully romantic and fresh.  Unsentimental, intelligent, and warm, this endlessly amusing comedy of manners is the best first novel I’ve read in a long, longtime.” Note that the May gathering will begin a half hour later than usual.

Bring a dish to share.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  You are welcome to bring other beverages.  We socialize over our potluck meal for the first hour and then promptly begin our book discussion drawing to a close with the selection of our next book by about an hour later so that folks who want to head home early on a Friday night can do so. We have been selecting books which deal with difference in all its guises.  We welcome your suggestions.   Contact: Betty Derrick. 

Notes from Kids’ RE – Sue Bailey

The RE kids are reading about the life of Moses and are working on a mural that will illustrate some important moments in his life. On display in the sanctuary is the depiction of baby Moses in the basket among the bulrushes of the Nile River. In the next several classes, we will be reading more about Moses and adding to the mural. We will continue exploring several more stories in the Old Testament before moving on to stories about Jesus in the coming months. And remember, volunteers to help in Kids’ RE are always welcome! 

A Walk Through History--The African American Story

An invitation from Rev. Floyd Rose, Serenity Church, Valdosta, GA

As you know, a whole generation of young people will live and die without ever having appreciated who they are. To make sure they know, we've not only established an African American Museum in the sprawling complex of Serenity Church, but Butch Williams will be teaching a Black History Class each 4th Saturday, beginning on March 26, 2011. The classes are held from 10:00-12-00 noon.

The class will include a walk through African American History, from the days when we were kings and queens in Africa, through the Middle Passage, 246 years of slavery, Reconstruction, Segregation, the Renaissance, the Civil Rights movement, to the election of Barak Obama.

                Ours is not only a story of survival, but one of outstanding achievement in the face of staggering odds. We became scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers, administrators, business owners, inventors, discoverers, etc. And you'll see it all. You will also see what we lost; the two hundred businesses, and the jobs and job opportunities that we once controlled. And you'll see why the largest black owned businesses in our neighborhood are the funeral homes and black churches.

                We would be happy to give you a tour.

Social Action Activities  

Dinner at the LAMP Shelter

The Valdosta Area Ministerial Association(VAMA) will be providing a dinner for the residents of the homeless shelter in late April.  Watch for announcements about the exact date and time. The meal will be catered, so participation will mainly involve serving the food and socializing with the residents.  Several people from our congregation participated last year including some of the youth, and a great time was had by all.  Contact Fred Howard, Lars Leader, Kimberly Tanner, or Sue Bailey if interested in participating.  

Accepting Difference Project

 About 40 people attended an introduction to Gamaliel community organizing at Crossing Jordan Baptist Church on March 19.  Most were members of Crossing Jordan, who are embarking on an in-reach listening campaign within the congregation.  Ana Garcia-Ashley, new Executive Director of the Gamaliel Foundation, led the training.  The workshop was organized by Carol Stiles, Rev. George Bennett, and Rev. Ronnie Mathis of Crossing Jordan.  

Interfaith Day of Prayer

The Valdosta Area Ministerial Association (VAMA) is planning to hold an Interfaith Day of Prayer service again this year.  The service is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Monday, May 9.  Exact times and further details will follow.
 Our congregation was instrumental in initiating the first of these more inclusive services in Valdosta several years ago.  Previous such events in the area had been planned by and represented only more conservative Christian churches from the community.  VAMA has invited this group to participate in the more inclusive event, but they have declined so far to do so.  This year’s event will likely be at the courthouse in downtown Valdosta and will include non-Christian as well as Christian religious representatives from the community.  

Justice Sunda y

Our congregation participates with UUs throughout the country in the annual Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) events: Guest At Your Table in the fall and Justice Sunday in the spring.  We celebrate Justice Sunday on April 10 this year.

This year's Justice Sunday theme — “Justice is Aid with Dignity” — focuses on how UUSC upholds the inherent worth and dignity of every person in its Rights in Humanitarian Crises Program. This includes ongoing work in Darfur, Gaza, Haiti, Kenya, Pakistan, and Uganda.   Justice Sunday highlights UUSC’s ongoing human-rights work and provides learning, advocacy, and action resources to help organize members of congregations to reflect, understand, and take action on pertinent humanitarian issues.  

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2^nd Monday (and 5^th when there is one) of each month.  If you would like to help deliver meals beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Frank or Rosie Asbury.

President’s Portion

Lars Leader

Sunday, May 1^st, we will hold our Annual Congregational Meeting.  In Unitarian-Universalist congregations throughout our Association, this meeting is an important aspect of our tradition for local decision making in a democratic process.  Our most important action will be voting on the Nominating Committee’s roster for the upcoming year’s Board of Directors.  Nominations can also be offered from members of the congregation who attend the meeting.  In addition, our treasurer will present the budget for the upcoming year.  After any discussion, we will call for approval of the budget.  Another matter that the meeting will bring to the congregation is “Share the Plate.”  This proposal is a way to donate non-pledge money to service organizations that do justice work in our community.  An article describing Share the Plate appeared in our March newsletter.  At our meeting, the congregation will receive an explanation of how this initiative works and will have an opportunity for discussion before taking a vote on it.

The annual meeting is a vital part of our congregational life.  Every member of the UU Church of Valdosta should make an effort to attend.

Nominating Committee Report

The Nominating Committee presents this slate for positions on the Board of Directors for the church for consideration at the Annual Meeting on May 1:

President                                Lars Leader

Vice President                       Doug Tanner

Secretary                               Kat Nickola

Treasurer                               Rosie Asbury

Religious Education            Sue Bailey

Membership                         Kimberly Tanner

Build and Grounds              Jim Ingram

The Nominating Committee this year was Doug Tanner (Chair), Dee Tait, and Betty Derrick.  Thanks go to all those above who have agreed to serve if elected.  They perform important functions on behalf of our congregation as members of our Board of Directors.

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

April 6, 2011

Attending: Lars Leader, Rosie Asbury, Kimberly Tanner, Sue Bailey, Valerie Webster, Fred Howard.

Old Business:  Plans have been made to clean up the storage room shared with New Hope Church.

New Business: Board plans to put up a new bench sign to advertise our church. A list of available bench locations was reviewed and several locations were considered. The discussion will continue via email before making a decision on location.  Budget proposal for 2011-2012 was distributed to and approved by Board after making several adjustments. It will now go to the congregation for final approval.  (Proposed budget unavailable when the newsletter went to press.) Building insurance is due in May. ChemEx (pest control) will start serving us next month. Still waiting for more pledge letters to come in.  Our church’s presence on Facebook has nearly doubled. Getting good feedback. A guideline for answering the church phone will be posted beside the phone. Over the summer, Kimberly plans to redo our brochures and other materials to update them.   Next Meeting: May 4, 2011; 6 PM  

Treasurer’s Report – Rosie Asbury

February 28, 2011

Receipts               February                       July -present

  Plate                     $ 151.45                        $   738.61

  Pledge                   1130.00                         13387.00

  Rent                        240.00                            1820.00

  Miscellaneous           00.00                             1235.00

Total Receipts     $  1521.45                         $17180.61

Disbursements  

  Speakers’ Fees      200.00                              1400.00

  Minister Expense  700.00                                6378.18

  Maintenance              0.00                               4648.06

  Pest Control             35.00                                280.00

  Building Insurance      0.00                                    0.00

  Postage                       0.00                                273.49

  Supplies (TV cart)     79.66                                169.50

  Utilities    388.02                                              2211.44

  RE Program               0.00                                 178.67

  Membership Prog.     0.00                                    81.00

 Advertising/Website    0.00                                     34.01

 UUA Dues              253.00                                1485.00

 UU Conference           0.00                                  575.00

 Donat. (Habitat)       100.00                                  320.00

 Others                         0.00                                   266.13

Total  Disburs.$ 1755.68                                 $18300.48

Net Receipt     $ - 234.23                                  $-1119.87

Sangha Tuesdays

5:30-7:00 PM at the church

This Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Group will be meeting weekly at the church for tea at 5:30 PM with meditation beginning at 6 PM followed by a brief reading.  Those who follow other Buddhist practices are welcome.  Contacts: Julie Halter or Theresa Thompson.

Electronic Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who responded to queries about a possible electronic newsletter.  Your editor is still collating the responses and will be discussing your thoughts with our communication team, including Betty Derrick, Carol Stiles, Dee Tait, and Kimberly Tanner.  If you would still like to respond see the article in the March newsletter as well as an e-mail from late March.  Your further comments are welcomed.  Please note that, although electronic vs print newsletter is on the agenda for the annual meeting, this matter has yet to be discussed by the communication team or with the Board.

Annual Congregational Meeting

The meeting is set for May 1. Items on the agenda for the Congregational Meeting:

·         Vote for 2011-2012 Board Members

·         Share the Plate

·         2011-2012 Budget

·         Electronic/Paper Newsletter

·         General Assembly

·         Update on minister contract for 2011-2012.  

 At the Church-in-the-Woods

New Hope Christian Community Church- Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 4:30 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.  http://internationalchristiancommunity.ning.com  

Taoist Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday: Beginner’s Class, 5:30-6:30 PM; Continuing Class, 6:30-8 PM.  Beginning in mid-May there will be only one class for the summer meeting 6:00-7:30 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin.  

PFLAG Meeting – 4th Tuesday each month, 7:00PM

Contact: Doug Tanner The web page for PFLAG Valdosta:
http://pflag-valdosta.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

 UU Activities and Announcements

April 2- Values/Mission/Vision Workshop, Jacksonville-Buckman Bridge, Jacksonville, FL
April 8-10 - Florida District Assembly, Orlando-First Unitarian, Orland, FL

April 17 - Singing the Journey, UU Church, Savannah, GA

 ~  A Concert Introducing the UU Hymnal Supplement  ~
Presented by UU Savannah Music Director Kelly Blackmarr & the Church Choir, 5:00 PM Sunday, April 17 in the Sanctuary; Admission $5 at the door Or donate a Singing the Journey supplement to the church for $15 and get free admission

Singing the Journey is UU’s vibrant hymnal supplement that includes hymns, chants and other songs in styles including jazz, folk, pop, spirituals, gospel, praise songs, call-and-response, chants, rounds and traditional hymns.  The audience will be invited to participate fully in this unique concert which will run the gamut from quiet meditation to full-throated celebration and praise. The event also serves as a fundraiser to buy100 Singing the Journey hymnals for the church.

May 14 - Unitarian Universalism Faces a New Age -- Yet Again! Panel, Vero Beach, FL

May 28 - More Than Money, But Money Matters Stewardship Workshop, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

June 5 - Ordination of Jay Wolin Orlando, FL First

June 22-26 - UUA General Assembly Charlotte, NC

Year of the Rabbit

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund                               April 2011

jlund@uua.org

This is the time of year I hope you are making your plans to attend General Assembly (GA) 2011 in Charlotte, NC, June 22-26. This annual gathering of UUs will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. Our UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) charged an Anniversary Task Force is developing and will implement a plan for this celebration and encouraging UU congregations throughout our faith to become part of the celebration too.

There is terrific programming, and a line-up of excellent speakers. The Ware lecturer this year is award-winning theologian Karen Armstrong, a world leading commentator on religion and a best-selling author. Ms. Armstrong is mainly known for her work on Islam and Fundamentalism, particularly in the U.S. She has spoken before members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, and the United Nations. Also, Feisal Abdul Rauf, and American Sufi-imam, and author/activist will be welcomed. His stated goal is to improve relations between the Muslim world and the west. Being chair of Cordoba Initiative has brought him national attention because of plans to establish an Islamic community only a few blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan. There will be a UUA Presidents Forum to mark the 50^th anniversary which will include five past UUA Presidents and our current President, Rev. Peter Morales. Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, retired UU minister, author, and scholar, best known for researching the history of black UUs.

Of course there will be the wonderful and uplifting worship services, and stimulating, helpful workshops. The local service project is In Our Own Backyards youth summer camp, an interfaith, service-based summer experience designed to “open the eyes” of participants to the ever-present reality of poverty in the area community.

The main social witness actions will include debate and vote on adopting the Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating—Food and Environmental Justice. There will be workshops on Immigration as a Moral Issue. There will be numerous Bylaw changes proposals; one which will change the definition of what is a member congregation. Another proposed Bylaw change modifies the conditions for appointment to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, opening the possibility of more than fourteen members, and eliminates the obligation to have members of the BOT on that Committee. Proposed Bylaw and Rule changes would eliminate Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) from GA. This change is proposed so that GA Social Justice 2012 may entirely be devoted to the mandate determined by the delegates at GA 2010. Proposed Bylaw and Rule changes would reconstitute AIWs beginning after the 2012 GA and modify the process for submission. The BOT plans to put forth a Bylaw change that would lessen the size of the BOT to about half the size it is now. I will issue more information after the April BOT meeting.

You can find registration/housing and much information about GA by linking to the GA site on the www.uua.org web page. As always I welcome comments and questions about the work of the BOT. I wish each of you a happy spring season and hope your congregations are thriving with goodness.

Message from Rev. Peter Morales
President, Unitarian Universalist Association

As the news from Japan worsens, I send my heartfelt sympathies to all those struggling to cope with this terrible disaster.

As the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) president, I traveled to Japan last August to meet with our religious partners there. The warm hospitality offered to my wife, Phyllis, and me left us with a beautiful and lasting impression of their country and culture. My heart goes out to the people of Japan for what they are enduring now.

As soon as the UUA received word of the tragedies of Friday, March 11, we reached out to our religious partners in Japan: Rissho Kosei-kai, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, the Konko Church of Izuo, the Tokyo Dojin Church, and the Japan Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom. We have worked in close partnership with these outstanding organizations for many decades, and have been in contact with them since Friday. I can only imagine the overwhelming sadness and fear they are experiencing, even as they try to determine their next steps.

To this end, the UUA/Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) Japan Relief Fund has been established to support the recovery efforts of our religious partners in Japan, as they consider the specific efforts to take to support the work of recovery. I encourage anyone wishing to contribute to this crucial effort to read more about the UUA/UUSC Japan Relief Fund here.

For several months, the Rev. Eric Cherry, the UUA's Director of International Resources, has had a trip to Japan scheduled for later this month. The situation on the ground is still extremely volatile, but as I write this, Eric intends to make the trip if at all possible. If he is able to make the journey, he will convey my sincere condolences and profound hope for swift recovery on behalf of the entire Unitarian Universalist Association.

We at the UUA will hold the country of Japan in our hearts, as we work to support them in their time of great need.